East Syracuse, NY – A failed electrical connection is being blamed for touching off a fire that damaged a three-family home Thursday in East Syracuse, a fire official said.

Firefighters responding about 8 p.m. to a call to 208 W. Yates St. found the back room of the building’s first-floor flat in flames, said John Lang, East Syracuse second-assistant fire chief. Police already had made sure the three families occupying the building had gotten out safely, Lang said.

The house’s balloon construction allowed the fire to spread to the upper stories and it took about 20 minutes to bring it under control Lang said. DeWitt firefighters helped in the effort, he said. No firefighters were hurt.

The first-floor back room, kitchen and living room sustained heat and fire damage and there was smoke damage throughout the structure, Lang said. The building can be repaired.

Investigators believe an electrical cord attached to a heater set some clothing ablaze, touching off the fire, Lang said.

The American Red Cross of Central New York is helping the families left homeless by the fire. They included a family of two adults, a family of two adults and a child, and a family of three adults and two children.